Skills Needed to Become a Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists remove plaque and tartar from patients' teeth and help teach them how to properly care for their teeth at home. There are a variety of skills necessary to become a dental hygienist.

High School Education

Prospective dental hygienists must successfully graduate from high school and take College Board examinations. It is recommended that students interested in pursuing a career in dental hygiene take courses in biology, chemistry and mathematics in high school as the knowledge taught in these courses will be important to their advanced studies.

College Education

After high school, dental hygienists must obtain an associate's, bachelor's or graduate degree in dental hygiene. These programs teach students a number of skills relating to their future work, including anatomy, chemistry, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, radiography, histology, periodontology, dental materials and clinical dental hygiene.

Licensure

In addition to the knowledge gained during their secondary education, prospective hygienists need strong test-taking skills in order to pass the two examinations required to practice as a hygienist.

People Skills

Because they deal directly with patients, dental hygienists should be compassionate, kind and able to put patients at ease. In addition, they must be excellent verbal communicators in order to succinctly explain how to care for teeth and gums at home.

Other Skills

Dental hygienists must have steady hands and be dexterous in order to properly and safely clean a patient's teeth. Also, they must have good eyesight to be able to locate plaque and tartar build-up as well as to spot any signs of dental problems that must be reported to the dentist.

Resources

• American Dental Hygienists Association
• American Dental Association